Range instructor shot

[eyebiter]

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[Boggit]

Don't get me wrong...shooting is a shit load of fun. I just don't think kids should be around guns. That's my personal opinion and it could be totally turned 360 if I lived in your country...you never know.

Again - it's more to do with them being kids than the dangers. Instructed well and sensibly, I'm sure kids can be very responsible and safe with a gun. But as a device to maim or kill, defend or whatever, I'd rather kids weren't exposed to such a grown up activity.

In the 80's I remember debates going on about arming the police. I was dreading it - because I saw it as an escalation - and I was glad it never went further. They are armed on occasions now - but at high risk times and places. Generally, your average "bobby" is armed with a truncheon (or whatever the modern equivalent is), pepper spray or CS gas and a tazer. I'm very glad it's that way. I know too many numpties in the UK whom I wouldn't trust with a pair of plastic scissors never mind a gun.

By the way the phrase Bobby (referring to a British policemen) is what they were nicknamed after their founder, Robert Peel. They were originally called Peelers I believe.

I'll leave it on that light hearted note. I'd rather this didn't escalate into the "disarming of the US" debate which often ends up in the mire.

I pretty much agree with Judge Dredd and Airboy about kids and automatic weapons. Next year my daughter will be old enough to shoot, and we'll be going to the local range, but she won't be shooting anything automatic, and will be taught safety first before she even holds a weapon.

Automatic weapons are bloody dangerous. Even if you drop one they can still go off. SMGs are close quarter weapons and even on a range are incredibly dangerous to nearby shooters. When I was in basic we had a guy turn along the line of shooters with an SMG. As he did so the instructor grabbed the smg out of the way, then punched his lights out. Two weeks previously a similar thing had been done and a guy was shot by negligent discharge. Now that was with the army - how much more dangerous are kids? :o